Answer :
Final answer:
The Eighth Amendment prohibits 'cruel and unusual punishments', which encompasses torturous and barbaric forms of punishment. Certain methods of capital punishment have been questioned for their legality under this amendment. What's deemed 'cruel and unusual' is determined by evolving societal standards and court interpretation.
Explanation:
The Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution bans the implementation of 'cruel and unusual punishments'. This means that barbaric forms of punishment like drawing and quartering, burning people alive, and other specific forms of execution are considered illegal. For example, certain methods of capital punishment, like certain forms of lethal injection that prolong suffering and maintain consciousness are argued to violate the Eighth Amendment. Notably, the very application of the death penalty itself has been a point of dispute as the Supreme Court has shifted its stance on whether the death penalty constitutes 'cruel and unusual punishment' over time. Ultimately, what forms of punishment are considered 'cruel' and 'unusual' is determined by evolving standards of decency and, at times, the specific interpretation of the courts.
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